IFCO SYSTEMS Awarded for Sustainable Packaging Systems

IFCO SYSTEMS, a leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh foods, including fresh bread, has won the award as “Best Performer of the Circular Economy” by CONFINDUSTRIA, the main association representing manufacturing and service companies in Italy.

The award aims to enhance the value of companies committed to seizing the spirit and business opportunities offered by the circular economy throughout the complete production cycle – from procurement to design, production, distribution, and consumption, to recovery and recycling.

The award ceremony was held in Rome on May 16 in the presence of Eleonora Gemini, Managing Director of IFCO SYSTEMS Italy.

CONFINDUSTRIA has recognized the value of IFCO’s logistics management model, the IFCO SmartCycle™. This circular economy model is based on the principle of “Share and Reuse” to guarantee maximum functionality and hygiene throughout the complete fresh foods supply chain. The IFCO SmartCycle™ uses Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) that are delivered directly to the supplier. From there, the containers are transported to the distribution center, the retailers, and then back to the IFCO collection and washing centers. In the washing centers, the empty RPCs are inspected, cleaned, disinfected and prepared for the next cycle. In addition, the IFCO RPCs are foldable, reducing bulk and thus optimizing transport and storage with an additional positive impact on the environment.

IFCO’s washing systems are designed to reduce water consumption and to allow energy recovery and water reuse.

“IFCO’s business model is based on the concept of a circular economy. Our IFCO SmartCycle is a great example of that: The sharing and reusing of RPCs directly translates into tangible and measurable resource savings. Compared to one-way packaging, RPCs reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60%, save up to 64% of energy and up to 80% of water, as well as up to 86% of solid waste. To save food, RPCs also reduce product damage by 96% compared to one-way packaging. These vast resource savings have also been proven by a critically reviewed life cycle assessment study conducted by IFCO and SIM”, says Wolfgang Orgeldinger, CEO of IFCO SYSTEMS.